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Chapter Five:
Sarah and Henri were setting the table for luncheon when a knock sounded at the door. Both children, plus James, came forward to answer it, but scattered when Moses came to the door and looked through the keyhole.
"The constable." he said softly before opening the door. The others exchanged alarmed glances and Henri turned to Sarah, who was closest to him, to ask why he was visiting.
Sarah frowned in reply. "I do not know, Henri." she said, pulling him against herself and closing her arms around his shoulders protectively as the constable and one of his men entered.
It was easy to see why. The constable was a reasonable man of average build but the man he had brought with him was huge and cruel-looking. James inadvertently stepped towards Sarah and Henri as well, glancing nervously at the constable's man.
"Moses," said the constable by way of greeting. "My man, William. William, this is Moses, Dr. Franklin's assistant."
Moses greeted both men. William grunted in reply. James, Sarah, and Henri moved closer together as if they could create a wall to block out the unwelcome guests.
Suddenly Sarah remembered her manners. "I'll fix everyone some tea." she said quickly, hurrying to the stove to put on the kettle. She was anxious enough to fumble with the tea as she got it out from the cupboard and continued to glance at the three men seated at the table, with Henri and James standing awkwardly to the side.
"Something you came for, constable?" asked Moses politely. The constable nodded.
"Moses, I've known you and Dr. Franklin for years. I know that four years ago, he took on..." he paused nervously before Moses relieved the poor man of uncertainty.
"James. This is James."
"Right. James, here, as an apprentice, and he's a good lad, I suppose—some mischief, perhaps, but doesn't everyone get into some when they're young? He shows dedication to his trade, at the very least.
"Then, a year later, you take...er, this shorter one, in with you as well. An orphan, isn't he?"
Moses nodded. "Is that what we came to discuss, sir?"
"Be patient. Now, I don't need to tell you of the laws passed here in Philadelphia. I'm sure you know that your paper isn't...exactly on the right side of things anymore. Dr. Franklin has been disgraced."
"In England, constable. We believe the laws of England aren't subject to Americans." James said.
"You see, Moses!" he slammed his hand down on the table. "You've taught...er, John...your treasonous sayings. I don't want to have to arrest anyone, especially not someone as young as Harry, here."
"And I hope you won't have to do that, sir." said Moses, glancing at James, Sarah, and Henri. "But we only print the truth."
"You can I both know that isn't the problem. Moses, you have children in the house. It's your responsibility to protect them, not let them aid you in breaking the law. And what do you think would happen to Sylvia here if everyone else in the house went to jail?"
"Will you be arresting us, then?" he asked, glancing at the children, who were exchanging half-nervous, half-amused glances at both his threats and his fumbles with their names.
"I have children of my own, Moses." replied the constable. "I can't send these boys to jail." he frowned. "I'll give you three days to shut up this foolish business—that is, if the British don't decide to enforce their own laws before that."
"I thought you believed in American freedom, too!" said James loudly, knowing the man had never been shy before about declaring himself a patriot. The constable glared.
"As I said, I have children, and I care about what will happen to them—as you should, Moses. I just wanted to discuss this with you."
"It's been discussed, then." he said rather cooly. "Good day, gentlemen." the constable took the hint and picked up his hat.
"Good day, Moses, Jacob, Susanna, Harold." he bowed and left with William.
Henri looked at the older children. "Are we to be arrested?"
"No, never. Not as long as we can help it. Even if it is where some zealots belong." Sarah glanced at James to prove her point, then coughed and crossed her arms as if she could repel the legal system of the colonies with a glare.
"It's the redcoats." said James, with no little dislike. "If we were free, this wouldn't happen. They couldn't just come in here and arrest us for the truth."
"We need to be careful." said Moses. "Staying here is just going to get harder and harder—and more dangerous."
The children looked up at him, their mirrored expressions easy to read. No one was leaving.
Sarah was writing a letter to her mother, telling her of the day's events, when James looked in on her. "It's cold in here!" he exclaimed upon entry, noticing the open windows letting in all the cold February air.
"It is not." replied Sarah. "Something you want, James?"
"Have you fallen ill, Sarah?" he asked. "Moses could send you to Mrs. Adams if you're sick."
"I am not ill." said Sarah, annoyed and raising her voice slightly. "The room is just a bit too hot for my liking. Is that all you came in for?"
"I was going to ask if you had a spare inkwell. I'm out." Sarah surveyed her own inkwell.
"My apologies. I am almost out of ink as well and I don't have a spare, either."
"Fie. Well, I'll go ask Moses."
Sarah coughed before signing thVe letter. She opened her window wider and coughed again.
James walked towards Moses, who had his head in a cupboard. "Moses, do we have any ink?"
"Not that I'm aware of." replied the man, shutting the cupboard. "Fresh out. We'll have to buy some more—I think it's light enough for you to go on your own if you will, James."
"Alright," agreed James. Since the particular store that sold the ink in large enough quantities for the press—a Tory store, but the only vendor in the city—didn't take credit, Moses handed James some moneynotes. "You know to get four of the largest containers? This should be enough."
"I'll be back quickly." promised James, stepping out of the shop. Outside, people walked about, doing their shopping or just moving from place to place, but there were less people out then usual. James wondered if some of them had fled the city like Moses wanted the children to.
Pushing open the door of the shop, James quickly found the ink he was looking for and brought it to the shopkeeper for payment. But the shopkeeper shook his head.
"Keep your money, boy." he said, "You work for Dr. Franklin's paper, don't you?"
Blankly James nodded.
"Aren't you aware that he's a traitor to the Crown? I won't be supporting him or his paper—no worker of his is to patronize my shop." he pushed the ink away and one of his assistants quickly replaced it.
"But you're the only shop in the city that sells enough." James mostly-shouted. "Why won't you let us buy ink from you? You end up receiving payment anyway!"
"You're using it to print the paper! If reading the paper's sedition, I hate to think what printing it is. Be off, lad." he waved his hand as if to swat James away.
James had no intention of leaving, but one of the shop workers was much stronger and hauled him out, shutting the door behind him. Ignoring the stares of everyone around him and deciding it not worth the risk of trying to reenter James turned back, embarrassment and anger burning inside of his head.
He stormed back into the house seeing only red, and ignoring Moses' queries on where the ink was or what had happened until Moses grabbed his arm. "James! Answer me."
"They won't sell us ink because we're patriots and Dr. Franklin isn't a loyalist! It's not fair, Moses! They're judging us on our beliefs and they're not treating us equally!" James got louder every word he spoke, and he hadn't started out quietly. Sarah and Henri both appeared at the stairwell.
"James," said Sarah wearily, "Is it so much to ask that you stop shouting? It's very rude."
The sound of her accented voice simply angered him further. Ignoring her, James continued. "The Tory threw me out of his shop. If I could get my hands on him, I'd—"
"Do absolutely nothing, I should hope." interrupted Sarah. "He's just obeying the law and standing up for what he believes in—as you demand your right to do so."
"That's different," scoffed James. "I—"
"She's right." agreed Moses. "If you want freedom, it means freedom for everyone, or we're just as bad as the British—no disrespect, Sarah—even the people who you don't particularly like. Freedom of speech to hear things you don't like, freedom of actions to people who you don't agree with."
James sulked, not understanding the point. Moses sighed. "Someone will have to go to the next city to get more ink. They have a shop there that sells enough, and they're sure to sell to us. They're all patriots."
"I'll go." volunteered James immediately, followed by Sarah and Henri's echoes of the same offer.
"It's a day's ride from here, maybe more—James and Sarah, you're both probably known to all the King's army, and Henri could be found by that Captain Wright again. Or one of his men. Besides, it would be too dangerous for any of you. I'll go."
"Moses!" complained James, secretly thanking God he hadn't had to go. Not at night, not with all the soldiers.
"Then it's settled. I'll leave tomorrow morning—we need this ink soon for the next issue of the paper."
"But, Moses," Henri volunteered, uncharacteristically nervous sounding, "If you are out buying ink, we'll be alone in Philadelphia. What if ze soldiers come?"
"I don't think the soldiers will attack the print shop, Henri. If they planned to arrest us they probably would've by now. I'll be back soon." Henri seemed visibly relieved.
Over the head of the younger boy, James and Sarah exchanged worried glances. What Moses had said wasn't necessarily true. The soldiers could attack at any time. Sarah was British and probably wouldn't be punished, since she was the daughter of a Major—unless the soldiers remembered her from their last brush with disaster. James and Henri, on the other hand, could be put in prison. James might even be hanged. And what surprise would be awaiting Moses when he came back from getting the ink?
They had the musket, but would it be of any use if no one in the house could fire it? And even if Moses was there should the soldiers attack, there wouldn't be much he could do against them versus without him. Not to mention what would happen the the constable's three days were up.
"You'll be careful, won't you, Moses?" Sarah bit her lip and coughed.
"Of course, Sarah. Do you need anything for your throat? We can take you to the apothecary—" Moses looked concerned. Sarah shook her head rapidly.
"Certainly not, Moses. I feel fine. A bit of water shall do for me." Sarah quickly set about preparing said water.
The next morning, Moses made his departure. All the remaining occupants of the house watched anxiously until he was out of sight. James and Sarah glanced at one another again as Henri went into the house with them, both sharing fears.
"I'll—" Sarah coughed and leant against the table for support. "I'll make some tea." no one argued. The house felt eerie in the nervous silence, and the children were tense.
James tried to convince himself he was being stupid, but he couldn't get over the fear that it would not be an easy day-and-one-half without Moses.